Governor Newsom Announces Notable Appointments

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced several appointments of interest. These include:

• Maral Farsi, Deputy Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, California Department of Public Health – Ms. Farsi has served as Deputy Director of Legislative and Inter-Governmental Affairs at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development since 2018. Farsi was Regional Director of Governmental Affairs for CVS Health from 2014 from 2018, a Health Policy Manager at Optum from 2011 to 2014, and a Policy Analyst at the California Association of Health Plans from 2008 to 2011. She holds a Master of Science degree in Law from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

• Jennifer Lim, Deputy Director of External Affairs, Communications and Outreach at the California Department of Industrial Relations – Ms. Lim served as Deputy Director at the California Emergency Medical Services Authority since 2013. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Director of Legislation and Communications/Public Information Officer at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 2007 to 2013 and as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Training Officer, and Americans with Disabilities Consultant from 1997 to 2000. She held several positions at the Benson Enterprises and Mourning Hope from 1997 to 2007 and was also a research Publications Specialist/Public Information Officer at the Solano County Office of Education from 2000 to 2002.

• Joe Stephenshaw, Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs, Office of the Governor – Stephenshaw has been Staff Director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee since 2017. He has held several positions in the California Legislature since 2008, including serving as a Policy Consultant in the Office of the Senate President pro Tempore, a Special Advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly, and as a Budget Consultant for both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Mr. Stephenshaw was a Budget Analyst for the California Department of Finance from 2005 to 2008.